International Athlete Arjun Devaiah inaugurated the three-day district-level Badminton tournament organised by Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club in association with Mysuru District Badminton Association (MDBA) at University of Mysore (UoM) Indoor Badminton Court here this morning.

Recalling his journey, Devaiah said that he took to sports at a rather late age of 21 years.

Maintaining that there are no short cuts to success and it is only hard work, determination and dedication, coupled with physical fitness that will shape a complete sports person, he stressed on the need for children to show interest in sports as well along with academics.

Underlining the role of coaches in shaping sport persons, he said that although tough training sessions takes a lot of physical and mental stress, they are vital for a sport person to make big at national and international levels.

Pointing out that he has counselled hundreds of parents and children from all walks of life on taking up sports, Olympian Devaiah said it was important that parents encourage children to take up sports at a young age.

UoM PE Director Krishnaiah, MDBA Secretary S.G. Prabhu, Mysuru Kodava Samaja President B.M. Nanaiah, Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club President M.P. Nanaiah, Vice-President K.D. Muthappa, Secretary K.N. Kushalappa and others were present.

Nearly 300 badminton players from five districts — Mysuru, Mandya, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar and Hassan — are taking part in this 3-day tournament, which concludes on Apr. 15.

The tournament is conducted for Boys & Girls under five categories based on age.

‘Not interested in politics’

“I am not at all interested in politics,” said Arjun Devaiah when SOM spoke to him on the sidelines of the tournament as there were speculations that the BJP was considering his name for Virajpet Assembly segment.

Devaiah said all the three major parties were inviting him to join their respective parties since a few years. But he has kept away from politics, as politics is not the only way for addressing public issues.

Stating that he was personally opposed to nominating sportspersons to Rajya Sabha as it would serve no purpose, the Arjuna awardee said that it would be better to nominate sportspersons for sport representative bodies in the better interest of sports promotion.